The use of a stentless porcine bioprosthesis to repair an ascending aortic aneurysm in combination with aortic valve regurgitation.

Over the years, many surgical methods have evolved for the treatment of ascending aortic aneurysm in combination with aortic valve regurgitation; however, precise guidelines for optimal surgical techniques for varying presentations have not been defined. We describe the use of a stentless porcine bioprosthesis (Medtronic Freestyle) in a patient with an ascending aortic aneurysm and aortic regurgitation. We used the complete root replacement method, and anastomosed a Dacron graft (Hemashield) between the bioprosthetic valve and the native aorta to replace the distal part of the aneurysm.

A no-touch technique for calcified ascending aorta during coronary artery surgery.

Despite improvements in cardiovascular surgery techniques over the years, the incidence of neurologic complications has not declined, and stroke remains a possible (and devastating) sequela to coronary artery surgery. In this report, we describe a moderate hypothermic fibrillatory arrest technique that avoids cross-clamping or otherwise touching the aorta; use of the internal thoracic arteries and the right gastroepiploic artery provides optimum revascularization and minimizes the risk of cerebrovascular accident. Over a 1-year period, we used the technique in 21 patients who had heavy calcifications of the ascending aorta. No hemodynamic problems, lower-limb ischemia, or neurologic complications were seen. Only 1 patient underwent reoperation (for bleeding), and another--whose revascularization was incomplete--had a high postoperative level of myocardial creatine kinase MB isoenzyme and a new Q wave, but no hemodynamic deterioration. This technique seems reasonable, because it appears to provide good myocardial protection and to reduce neurologic complications, without comprising myocardial revascularization.

Ultrasonic decalcification of calcified valve and annulus during heart valve replacement.

A heavily calcified heart valve annulus increases the likelihood of sequelae after prosthetic valve replacement. Such sequelae include cerebral embolism, paravalvular leakage, valvular dysfunction, rhythm disturbance, hemolysis, communication of the heart chambers, and rupture of the posterior wall of the left ventricle. From January 1991 through June 1994, we performed heart valve replacement on 30 patients, using an ultrasonic surgical aspirator to remove calcific deposits. We placed aortic valve prostheses in 12 patients, mitral valve prostheses in 13 patients, and both aortic and mitral prostheses in 5 patients, after ultrasonic débridement of calcified annuli. All patients were re-examined 6 months after surgery: echocardiographic study showed no paravalvular leakage or valve-related complications. In our experience, ultrasonic decalcification of the annulus is superior to traditional methods. We advocate the use of ultrasonic débridement as an adjunctive tool in calcified heart valve replacement.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting with use of the octopus 2 stabilization system.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of coronary artery disease has evolved rapidly over the last two decades. The gold standard of surgical revascularization, the on-pump coronary artery bypass graft, has been challenged by the development of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Our experience with the alternative of the off-pump ("beating heart") coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) technique during a period of 18 months suggests that OPCAB avoids the complications of cardiopulmonary bypass and offers patients the benefit of long-term graft patency that greatly exceeds that of current endovascular technologies. METHODS: The early results of 126 OPCAB procedures performed through a medial sternotomy incision during a period of 18 months were evaluated. There were 80 male and 46 female patients, with a mean age of 69 +/- 4.3 years. Emergency cases and reoperations were not included. A total of 268 anastomoses were performed, with a mean number of 2.12 anastomoses per patient. Conduits used, with their percentage of use, were: left internal thoracic artery (LITA) (100%), right internal thoracic artery (11.1%), greater saphenous vein (84%), and radial artery (31%). In 72% of the cases, off-pump surgery was chosen because of patient risk factors such as atherosclerotic aortic disease, previous cerebrovascular accident or carotid artery disease, renal dysfunction, malignancy or poor left ventricular function. RESULTS: There was no operative mortality. One-month postoperative mortality was three patients (2.3%). Two died because of mesenteric ischemia, and the other death was due to cardiac failure. Seventy-one patients had a control angiogram before discharge. The patency of LITA anastomosis was 100% while overall patency rate was 95%. In 43 patients for whom an angiogram could not be performed, a Thallum 201 stress test was performed three months postoperatively. Thirty-eight patients had a normal test while five patients showed signs of ischemia. These patients had a control angiogram: in four patients anastomoses were patent, but in one patient there was a severe narrowing of a venous anastomosis to the distal right coronary artery (RCA) which was corrected with angioplasty. In the whole series eight patients (6.3%) refused to have any control examination. CONCLUSIONS: Our early results suggest that off-pump CABG with Octopus 2 (Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN) can be a good alternative in high risk patients who need multiple vessel revascularization.

Does off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery reduce mortality in high risk patients?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this retrospective study was to compare outcome in two groups of patients who were classified according to their risk groups and underwent coronary revascularization with or without cardiopulmonary bypass. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between January 1996 and July 2000, 480 cases that underwent coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) were included in a retrospective nonrandomized manner for study. Group 1 included 210 patients who were revascularized using off-pump techniques. Octopus 2 and 3 (Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN) were used for tissue stabilization. Group 2 included 270 cases who underwent CABG using CPB. Emergency cases, combined operations, reoperations, and patients in cardiogenic shock were excluded. Demographic variables were comparable between two the groups. Using the Allegheny Clinic Risk Scoring Scale [Magovern 1996], patients in both groups were scored as low, moderate, and high risk. In Group 1, 37 % of patients consisted of high risk patients while Group 2 had 14% (p < 0.05). Student's t-test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis and alfa < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Mortality was 1.4% in Group 1 and 1.5% in Group 2 (p = ns). Mean anastomosis per patient was 2.6 +/- 0.6 in Group 1 and 3.2 +/- 0.5 in Group 2 (p < 0.05). Patients in Group 1 needed less blood transfusions and less inotropic support postoperatively (p < 0.05). There were also fewer minor neurological events (p < 0.05) and pulmonary complications (Type 2) in Group 1. Atrial fibrillation rate, infection, and major neurological deficit (Type 1) were similar in both groups. Mortality was less among Group 1 high risk patients (3.9 %) in comparison to Group 2 high risk patients (7.9 %), but this did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: In low or moderate risk patients, CABG can be performed safely with or without CPB. In high risk patients with several comorbidities, off-pump CABG seems to be a safe and efficient method that can improve outcome.